The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series returned from a two-month summer break with a classic off-road battle, as a five-rider pack fought for the overall win at the legendary Unadilla Valley Sports Center in upstate New York. On the last lap, the battle boiled down to two riders, and ultimately GEICO Monster Kawasaki’s Paul Whibley, of New Zealand, emerged with the overall win ahead of New York’s own Nathan Kanney, of the Shock Doctor KTM Team. Kanney’s teammate Kurt Caselli, a Californian, mounted a come-from-behind charge to take third, his first-ever GNCC podium.
“It was a good race; we were all just going back and forth out there,” said Whibley. “Nathan rode a great race, I was just able to put enough time between me and him on the last lap to stay comfortable and win it. It feels good to win.”
Whibley extends his points lead over FMF Suzuki teammates Charlie Mullins and Josh Strang, who were in the hunt early but ended up fourth and fifth, respectively.
Kanney, powered on by his home state fans, led plenty of laps throughout the day. “It seems like most of the time in the GNCCs, when a guy comes up on you who is faster, you just let him get by, but today I decided to get all rambunctious and get back in front,” said Kanney. “We were all battling, Thad (DuVall) caught me at one point and was riding amazing. It was good to see all of us up there, but Whibs, he got a few lappers in between me and him on the last lap and I just couldn’t close back in.”
DuVall and FMF Makita Suzuki teammates Charlie Mullins and Josh Strang were also in the hunt, joining Whibley and Kanney in the lead pack. The race started with DuVall and Mullins crashing together in the first turn, but both rode hard to catch the lead group. Meanwhile, New York privateer Ben Bouwens shocked everyone by grabbing the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Award while riding with an open-faced helmet and a Moose Racing enduro jacket.
In the XC2 Lites class, Shock Doctor KTM’s Kailub Russell rallied from third to take the win. Early in the race, Russell’s teammate Cory Buttrick and Monster Energy Andrews Yamaha’s Jason Thomas put on a torrid fight for the lead with Russell watching in third. Thomas’ teammate David Snyder had taken the $100 Cometic holeshot award, but soon Thomas and Buttrick were battling hard. Thomas took on a big crash, though, leaving Buttrick in the lead, but then he also crashed with a lapped rider.
Russell carried on to take the win while Buttrick and Thomas held on to take the final two podium positions. GEICO Monster Kawasaki’s Scott Watkins and KTM rider Jake Korn took fourth and fifth in the XC2 class.
The Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series continues in two weeks with the Moose Yadkin Valley Stomp in Yadkinville, NC. The Can-Am Unadilla ATV GNCC will air on Versus on October 10 at 4:00 p.m. with a re-air October 13 at 2:30 p.m.
Can-Am Unadilla GNCC
New Berlin, New York
Results: September 13, 2009
XC1 Class
1. Paul Whibley (Kaw)
2. Nathan Kanney (KTM)
3. Kurt Caselli (KTM)
4. Charlie Mullins (Suz)
5. Joshua Strang (Suz)
6. Barry Hawk (Yam)
7. Jimmy Jarrett (Kaw)
8. Ben Bouwens (Yam)
9. Ryan Gainey (Hon)
10. Adam Reeves (Yam)
XC2
1. Kailub Russell (KTM)
2. Cory Buttrick (KTM)
3. Jason Thomas (Yam)
4. Scott Watkins (Kaw)
5. Jake Korn (KTM)
GNCC Point Standings
1. Paul Whibley (244)
2. Josh Strang (217)
3. Charlie Mullins (215)
4. Jimmy Jarrett (174)
5. Nathan Kanney (164)
6. Kurt Caselli (142)
7. Barry Hawk (138)
8. TIE Kenny Gilbert/Glenn Kearney/Jesse Robinson (97)
XC2 Standings
1. Kailub Russell (277)
2. Cory Buttrick (218)
3. Jason Thomas (212)
4. Scotty Watkins (193)
6. Jake Korn (162)
